Cooling apparatus for refrigerator and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A cooling apparatus for a refrigerator according to the present disclosure may include a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant, a decompressor configured to decompress the condensed refrigerant, an evaporator configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant and generate cold air inside the refrigerator, a defrosting flow path including a first end connected to a refrigerant flow path between the compressor and the condenser, and a second end connected to the refrigerant flow path between the decompressor and the evaporator, and a flow path switching valve configured to selectively direct the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the defrosting flow path or to the condenser.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2013-0163575, filed on Dec. 26, 2013, the disclosureof which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cooling apparatus for a refrigeratorand a control method thereof.

BACKGROUND

In general, a refrigerator is a device for storing food and/or beveragesat low temperatures. The refrigerator is configured to keep the foodand/or beverages under refrigeration or in a freezer, for which therefrigerator includes a cooling apparatus to perform a cooling cycle.

While a refrigerant is repeatedly circulated in the cooling cycle,consisting of compression, condensation, expansion (decompression), andevaporation, cold air is generated. The cold air is supplied evenlyinside the refrigerator by convection, thereby keeping the food under alow temperature condition in the refrigerator. A main body of therefrigerator may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape having anopening at the front, and a refrigeration compartment and a freezercompartment inside the main body. Also, a door for the refrigerationcompartment and a door for the freezer close the opening of the mainbody.

An evaporator is a component related to the cooling cycle that isconfigured to provide heat exchange between the refrigerant and the airinside the refrigerator. The reason that the temperature of the surfaceof the evaporator is lower than the ambient temperature surrounding therefrigerator, thus water condenses on the surface of the evaporatorduring the operation of the heat exchange between the refrigerant andthe air inside the refrigerator. Furthermore, the condensed waterfreezes on the surface of the evaporator and turns to frost. When thefrost accumulates on the surface of the evaporator, efficiency of theheat exchange between the evaporator and the air inside the refrigeratormay decrease.

In order to solve such problem, generally, a heater may be provided on aside of the evaporator, thereby melting the frost (e.g., defrosting).

However, the conventional defrosting method, as mentioned above, leadsto increased power consumption, and increase the potential risk of firedue to the heater therein. Furthermore, additional components, forexample, a bi-metal, a thermal fuse, etc. may be necessary for fireprevention, increasing the cost of materials.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in effort to provide a coolingapparatus of a refrigerator capable of defrosting without a heater and acontrol method thereof.

The cooling apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure may comprises a compressor configured to compress arefrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressedrefrigerant, a decompressor configured to decompress the condensedrefrigerant, an evaporator configured to evaporate the decompressedrefrigerant and generate cold air for the refrigerator, a defrostingflow path that comprises a first end connected to a refrigerant flowpath between the compressor and a second end connected to therefrigerant flow path between the decompressor and the evaporator, and aflow path switching valve configured to selectively direct thecompressed refrigerant from the compressor to the defrosting flow pathor the condenser.

The flow path switching valve may be configured to direct the compressedrefrigerant to the condenser during cooling of the refrigerator, and tothe defrosting flow path during defrosting of the evaporator, therebydirecting the compressed refrigerant to the evaporator without passingthrough the condenser and the decompressor.

The compressor may be an inverter compressor. When the flow pathswitching valve directs the compressed refrigerant to the defrostingflow path, the inverter compressor is configured to control at least oneof the temperature of the compressed refrigerant and the supply speed orrate of the compressed refrigerant to the defrosting flow path bycontrolling a driving rate (e.g., in revolutions per minute, or RPM)thereof.

The cooling apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent disclosure may comprise a compressor configured to compress arefrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the compressedrefrigerant, a first decompressor and a second decompressor configuredto decompress a portion of or all of the condensed refrigerant,respectively, a first evaporator configured to evaporate thedecompressed refrigerant from the first decompressor, and generate coldair for a refrigeration compartment, a second evaporator configured toevaporate the decompressed refrigerant supplied from the seconddecompressor, and generate cold air for a freezer compartment, adefrosting flow path that comprises an end (e.g., first end) connectedto a first refrigerant flow path between the compressor and thecondenser, and another end (e.g., a second end) connected to a secondrefrigerant flow path between the first evaporator and the firstdecompressor or connected to a third refrigerant flow path between thesecond evaporator and the second decompressor, and a first flow pathswitching valve configured to direct a portion of or all of thecompressed refrigerant from the compressor to at least one of thedefrosting flow path and the condenser.

When defrosting the first evaporator and cooling the freezer, the secondend of the defrosting flow path is connected to the refrigerant flowpath between the first evaporator and the first decompressor. The firstflow path switching valve, by directing a portion of the compressedrefrigerant to the defrosting flow path, directs the portion of thecompressed refrigerant to the first evaporator without passing throughthe condenser and the first decompressor. The remaining refrigerant isdirected to the condenser, and the remaining compressed refrigerant isdirected to the second evaporator through the condenser and the seconddecompressor.

The cooling apparatus may further comprise a second flow path switchingvalve between the condenser and the first and second decompressors thatdirects the remaining compressed refrigerant from the condenser to thesecond decompressor.

When cooling the refrigeration compartment and defrosting the secondevaporator, the second end of the defrosting flow path is connected tothe refrigerant flow path between the second evaporator and the seconddecompressor. The first flow path switching valve, by directing aportion of the compressed refrigerant to the defrosting flow path,directs the portion of the compressed refrigerant to the secondevaporator without passing through the condenser and the seconddecompressor. The remaining compressed refrigerant is directed to thecondenser, and the remaining compressed refrigerant is directed to thefirst evaporator through the condenser and the first decompressor.

The cooling apparatus may further comprise a second flow path switchingvalve between the condenser and the first and second decompressors, anddirects the remaining compressed refrigerant passed through thecondenser to the first decompressor.

The first flow path switching valve may direct all the compressedrefrigerant to the defrosting flow path. The cooling apparatus mayfurther comprise a third flow path switching valve on the defrostingflow path and configured to direct a portion of the compressedrefrigerant directed to the defrosting flow path to the secondevaporator. A fourth flow path switching valve may be on the defrostingflow path, configured to direct the remaining compressed refrigerantdirected to the defrosting flow path to the first evaporator.

The control method for controlling the cooling apparatus of therefrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosuremay comprise determining whether to defrost the evaporator, andsupplying a refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator directlyto defrost the evaporator

The control method may further comprise determining whether theevaporator has been completely defrosted; and directing the refrigerantfrom the compressor to the condenser when the evaporator has beencompletely defrosted.

The cooling apparatus of the refrigerator may comprise a defrosting flowpath having an end (e.g., a first end) connected to a refrigerant flowpath between the compressor and the condenser, and another end (e.g., asecond end) connected to the refrigerant flow path between thedecompressor and the evaporator, and a flow path switching valveconfigured to selectively direct the compressed refrigerant suppliedfrom the compressor to the defrosting flow path or the condenser.

The compressor may be an inverter compressor, and the control method mayfurther comprise controlling a driving rate of the inverter compressorwhen defrosting the evaporator.

At least one of (i) a temperature of the compressed refrigerant and (ii)a supply speed or rate of the compressed refrigerant directly to theevaporator may be controlled by the driving rate of the invertercompressor.

As a result, it is possible to provide a cooling apparatus of arefrigerator and a control method thereof capable of defrosting anevaporator without an external heater.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a cooling apparatus of a refrigeratorduring the cooling process in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the exemplary cooling apparatus of arefrigerator during the defrosting process in accordance with theembodiment, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of an exemplary cooling apparatus of arefrigerator during the cooling process in accordance with otherembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a view of the exemplary cooling apparatus of arefrigerator during the defrosting process in accordance with theembodiments, as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of the exemplary cooling apparatus of therefrigerator during the defrosting process in accordance with otherembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating controlling the exemplary coolingapparatus of the refrigerator in accordance with the embodiments, asshown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for controllinga cooling apparatus of a refrigerator in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrativeembodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claimsare not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, andother changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe subject matter presented here.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosurewill be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.Various configurations of the present disclosure, and operations and/oreffects according to the configurations of the present disclosure, willbe clearly understood by the detailed description below.

It should be noted that the drawings are schematically provided and notnecessarily to scaled. The relative dimensions and ratios of the partsillustrated in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in size forclarity and convenience in the drawings, and the dimensions are onlyexamples without limitation. In the following description, the sameelements will be designated by the same reference numerals although theelements are illustrated in different drawings, and a detailedexplanation of known related constitutions may be omitted so as to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure show ideal examples ofthe present disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments shown inthe drawings are expected to be changed in various ways. Therefore, theexemplary embodiments are not limited to specific configurations in thedrawings, and may be changed to have various shapes and/or arrangementsby manufacturing.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a conventionalrefrigerator. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a freezer compartment of a sideby side type (SBS) refrigerator and freezer.

The refrigerator may include a main body 10 having a refrigerationcompartment and a freezer F therein, a rotatable door at the front ofthe main body 10 to close the refrigeration compartment, and a rotatabledoor 11 at the front of the main body 10 to close the freezer F.

A plurality of shelves 12 and a plurality of storage boxes or bins 13may be in the freezer F, and also a plurality of baskets, shelves ortrays 14 for storing food may be on the inside surface of the door 11 ofthe freezer.

Using such food storage components 12, 13 and 14, a user is capable ofeffectively keeping the food in any space in the refrigerator.

A barrier wall 20 may be at the rear of the freezer F, thereby defininga cold air generating compartment 30. An evaporator 31 may be in thecold air generating compartment 30 to generate cold air by heat exchangebetween a refrigerant and air inside the refrigerator. Furthermore, afan (e.g., a blast fan) 40 may be above the evaporator 31 to provideand/or force convection of the cold air generated by the evaporator 31into the freezer F. Furthermore, one or more cold air outlets 21 may beprovided in the barrier wall 20 to allow cold air in the evaporator 31to pass through to the freezer F. To discharge the cold air smoothly, aplurality of cold air outlets 21 may be provided. In addition, a coldair inlet 22 may in the lower part or side of the barrier wall 20 tocirculate the cold air from the freezer F to the evaporator 31 again.Behind the cold air inlet 22, there may be another fan (e.g., a suctionfan) 41 configured to pull cold air into the cold air generatingcompartment 30.

In the lower side of the refrigerator, a machine room 60 may includeand/or house a compressor 50, a condenser (not shown) and a decompressor(not shown), and optionally, one or more other cooling cycleconstituents.

With the configuration as mentioned above, the cold air generated in theevaporator 31 may be discharged to the inside of the freezer F throughthe cold air outlet 21, and the cold air may refrigerate and/or freezethe food stored inside the freezer compartment F, then may betransferred to the evaporator 31 through the cold air inlet 22.

The term “a cooling apparatus of the refrigerator” (hereinafter calledto as a cooling apparatus) used herein is understood in a wideconceptual sense, comprising all the possible constructions having afunction of refrigerating a space inside the refrigerator. For example,the cooling apparatus may include the components of the cooling cycle,the blast fan 40, the suction fan 41, the cold air generatingcompartment 30, the cold air outlet 21, the cold air inlet 22, and themachine room 60.

FIG. 2 shows a view of an exemplary cooling apparatus 100 during thecooling process in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling apparatus 100 in accordance with theembodiments of the present disclosure may include a compressor 110, acondenser 120, a decompressor 130 and an evaporator 140. The compressor110 and the condenser 120 may be connected each other via a first flowpath 115. The condenser 120 and the decompressor 130 may be connected toeach other via a second flow path 125. The decompressor 130 and theevaporator 140 may be connected to each other via a third flow path 135.Further, the evaporator 140 and the compressor 110 may be connected toeach other via a fourth flow path 145.

The decompressor 130 is described and shown herein as a capillary tubetype, but is not limited thereto, and may be an expansion valve type.

The refrigerant compressed with high temperature and high pressure inthe compressor 110 may be supplied to the condenser 120 via the firstflow path 115. The compressed refrigerant supplied to the condenser 120may be liquefied by releasing heat during the course of passage throughthe condenser 120. The refrigerant condensed in the condenser 120 may besupplied to the decompressor 130 via the second flow path 125, and thecondensed refrigerant may be reduced in pressure during the course ofpassage through the decompressor 130. The liquefied low-temperature andlow-pressure refrigerant may be supplied to the evaporator 140 via thethird flow path 135. The liquefied low-temperature and low-pressurerefrigerant may be vaporized by absorbing heat from the surroundingsduring the course of passage through the evaporator 140. Therefore, theair surrounding the evaporator 140 loses heat and becomes cold air. Thecold air generated may be supplied to inside the refrigerator. Therefrigerant passed through the evaporator 140 may be returned to thecompressor 110.

Unlike defrosting utilizing a heater, the cooling apparatus 100 inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may executedefrosting utilizing the high-temperature refrigerant compressed by thecompressor 110. In addition, defrosting the evaporator using a heaterplaced near a refrigerator or freezer compartment may affect the stateand/or quality of food in the refrigerator or freezer compartment placednear the heater. Furthermore, the period of time that thehigh-temperature refrigerant is circulated through the evaporator todefrost the evaporator is typically much less (e.g., about 20 minutes)than the period of time that a conventional heater takes to defrost thesame evaporator (e.g., about 60 minutes).

For example, the cooling apparatus 100 in accordance with theembodiments of the present disclosure may include a defrosting flow path150 and a flow path switching valve 160. An end (e.g., a first end) ofthe defrosting flow path 150 may be connected to the first flow path 115between the compressor 110 and the condenser 120, and the another end(e.g., a second end) of the defrosting flow path 150 may be connected tothe third flow path 135 between the decompressor 130 and the evaporator140. As will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3, therefrigerant compressed in the compressor 110 may be supplied to theevaporator 140 via the defrosting flow path 150. The flow path switchingvalve 160 may be provided on the first flow path 115. The flow pathswitching valve 160 may lead the compressed refrigerant flowing alongthe first flow path 115 to the defrosting flow path 150 or the condenser120 selectively. As will be described in detail with reference to FIG.3, when defrosting the evaporator 140, the flow path switching valve 160may lead the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 110 to thedefrosting flow path 150 instead of the condenser 120. The flow pathswitching valve 160 may be a 3-way valve.

Referring to FIG. 2, the exemplary cooling apparatus 100 is operated forcooling a space inside the refrigerator. The flow path switching valve160 may close the first end of the defrosting flow path 150 and open thefirst flow path 115, thereby allowing the refrigerant compressed in thecompressor 110 to flow to the condenser 120 along the first flow path115. The refrigerant arrived at the condenser 120 passes through thedecompressor 130 and the evaporator 140, thereby further lowering thetemperature inside the refrigerator.

As shown in FIG. 2, a part of the third flow path 135 may be connectedto the second end of the defrosting flow path 150. In this case, thefirst end of the defrosting flow path 150 is closed by the flow pathswitching valve 160, and the pressure on the side of the evaporator 140is lower than the pressure inside the defrosting flow path 150, therefrigerant flowing toward the evaporator 140 along the third flow path135 is prevented to flow backward to the defrosting flow path 150.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the exemplary cooling apparatus 100 during thedefrosting process described.

During the course of cooling a space inside the refrigerator, whendefrosting is required to remove the frost accumulated piled up on thesurface of the evaporator 140, the cooling apparatus 100 in accordancewith the exemplary embodiments may execute defrosting utilizinghigh-temperature refrigerant compressed in the compressor 110. To attainthis, as aforementioned above, the cooling apparatus 100 may include thedefrosting flow path 150 and the flow path switching valve 160.

For example, when defrosting, the flow path switching valve 160 providedon the first flow path 115 may close the first flow path 115 and open afirst end of the defrosting flow path 150. Accordingly, the refrigerantcompressed in the compressor 110 may not be directed to the condenser120 along the first flow path 115 and instead may be directed to thedefrosting flow path 150. As the compressed refrigerant does not passthrough the condenser 120 and the decompressor 130, the compressedrefrigerant suffers little or no temperature loss. Accordingly, evenafter arriving at the third flow path 135 through the defrosting flowpath 150, the compressed refrigerant is capable of retaining still ahigh-temperature condition. The compressed refrigerant arrived at thethird flow path 135 may be directed to the evaporator 140, therebymelting the frost accumulated on the evaporator 140 by thermal energy.

During the course that the compressed refrigerant flows in the thirdflow path 135 along the defrosting flow path 150, the flow pathswitching valve 160 may close the first flow path 115, and the pressureon the side of the evaporator 140 is lower than the pressure on the sideof the decompressor 130. Accordingly, the compressed refrigerant may beprevented to flow backward from the third flow path 135 to thedecompressor 130.

Furthermore, the compressor 110 of the cooling apparatus 100 inaccordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure may be aninverter compressor. The temperature of the refrigerant used fordefrosting may vary, depending on the driving rate of the invertercompressor 110. When the driving rate of the inverter compressor 110 hasa relatively high rate, the temperature of the refrigerant may increase.Accordingly, when the temperature of the refrigerant compressed in theinverter compressor 110 having a relatively high driving rate increases,the time for defrosting also may be reduced. Furthermore, as therefrigerant may be directed to the defrosting flow path 150 bycontrolling the driving rate of the inverter compressor 110, a speed ofsupplying the refrigerant to the evaporator 140 may also be controlled.The supply speed of the refrigerant to the evaporator 140 may becontrolled by controlling the driving rate of the inverter compressor110, thereby efficiently defrosting the refrigerator.

Contrary to a conventional cooling apparatus that utilizes a heater, thecooling apparatus 100 in accordance with the embodiments of the presentdisclosure utilizes a method in which the high-temperature refrigerantcompressed in the compressor 110 is supplied to the evaporator 140.Accordingly, electric power consumption and the potential risk of firemay be minimized. Furthermore, components for the heater, for example, abi-metal, a thermal fuse, etc. are not required, thereby reducing thecost of materials.

Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary cooling apparatus 200 during thecooling process is described, in accordance with other embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

Differently from the cooling apparatus 100 described with reference toFIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the cooling apparatus 200 in accordance with theexemplary embodiments are for cooling a plurality of spaces inside therefrigerator. For example, the cooling apparatus 200 in accordance withthe exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may include a firstevaporator 240 and a second evaporator 241. The first evaporator 240 andthe second evaporator 241 may be constructed for lowering temperaturesin the refrigeration compartment and in the freezer, respectively.Accordingly, a refrigerator having the cooling apparatus 200, inaccordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure may be arefrigerator of an independent cooling arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 4, the exemplary cooling apparatus 200, in accordancewith the embodiments of the present disclosure may include a compressor210, a condenser 220, a first and a second decompressor 230, 231 and thefirst and a second evaporator 240, 241. The compressor 210 and thecondenser 220 may be connected to each other via a first flow path 215.The condenser 220 and the first and the second decompressor 230, 231 maybe connected to each other via a second flow path 225. The firstdecompressor 230 and the first evaporator 240 may be connected to eachother via a third flow path 235, and the second decompressor 231 and thesecond evaporator 241 may be connected to each other via the fourth flowpath 236. The first evaporator 240 and the second evaporator 241 may beconnected to each other via a fifth flow path 245, and the secondevaporator 241 and the compressor 210 may be connected to each other viaa sixth flow path 246.

A refrigerant compressed with high-temperature and high-pressure in thecompressor 210 may be supplied to the condenser 220 via the second flowpath 215. The compressed refrigerant supplied to the condenser 220 maybe liquefied by releasing a thermal energy during passing through thecondenser 220. The refrigerant condensed in the condenser 220 may besupplied to the decompressors 230, 231 via the second flow path 225, andthe condensed refrigerant may be reduced in pressure during passingthrough the decompressors 230, 231. Between the second flow path 225 andthe decompressors 230, 231, a second flow path switching valve 261 with,for example, 3-way type may be provided. This type of the second flowpath switching valve 261 may divide the refrigerant flowing along thesecond flow path 225 to the first decompressor 230 and the seconddecompressor 231.

A first flow path switching valve 260 will be described hereinafter. Thelow-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant from the firstdecompressor 230 may be supplied to the first evaporator 240 via thethird flow path 225, and the low-temperature and low-pressure liquidrefrigerant from the second decompressor 231 may be supplied to thesecond evaporator 241 via the fourth flow path 236. The low-temperatureand low-pressure liquid refrigerant may absorb thermal energy from thesurroundings while passing through the evaporators 240, 241, therebybeing vaporized. Accordingly, the air surrounding the evaporators 240,241 may become cold, and the cold air generated like this may besupplied to each of the refrigeration compartment and the freezer. Therefrigerant passing through the first evaporator 240 may return to thecompressor 210 through the second evaporator 241, and the refrigerantpassing through the second evaporator 241 may be return to thecompressor 210.

Similar to the previously described embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the cooling apparatus 200 in accordance with one or morefurther embodiments may include a defrosting flow path 250 and a firstflow path switching valve 260. An end (e.g., a first end) of thedefrosting flow path 250 may be connected to the first flow path 215between the compressor 210 and the condenser 220, and another end (e.g.,a second end) of the defrosting flow path 250 may be connected to thethird flow path 235 between the first decompressor 230 and the firstevaporator 240. As will be described hereafter in detail with referenceto FIG. 5, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 210 may besupplied to the first evaporator 240 via the defrosting flow path 250.The first flow path switching valve 260 may be provided on the firstflow path 215. By operation of the first flow path switching valve 260,some or the entire of the compressed refrigerant flowing along the firstflow path 215 may be directed to the defrosting flow path 250. The firstflow path switching valve may be a 3-way valve.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cooling apparatus 200 is operated for coolingthe refrigeration compartment and the freezer. The first flow pathswitching valve 260 may close a first end of the defrosting flow path250 and may open the first flow path 215. With this configuration, therefrigerant compressed in the compressor 210 may be directed to thecondenser 220 along the first flow path 215. As the refrigerant arrivedat the condenser 220 passes through the decompressors 230, 231 and theevaporators 240, 241, temperatures inside the refrigeration compartmentand the freezer may decrease.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the first evaporation 240 during the defrostingprocess in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosuredescribed with reference to FIG. 4.

For example, when defrosting the first evaporator 240, but operating thesecond evaporator 241 for cooling the freezer, the first flow pathswitching valve 260 in the first flow path 215 may open both the firstflow path and an end of the defrosting flow path 250. Accordingly, someof the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 210 may be directed tothe defrosting flow path 250, and the remaining refrigerant may bedirected to the first flow path 215. A portion of the compressedrefrigerant directed to the defrosting flow path 250 may flow in thethird flow path 235 and then may be supplied to the first evaporator240. The frost accumulated on the first evaporator 240 may be melt fromthe thermal energy of the portion of the compressed refrigerant.Similarly, like the previously described embodiments with reference toFIG. 4, the remaining of the compressed refrigerant may be supplied tothe second evaporator 241 through the condenser 220 and the seconddecompressor 231. The second flow path switching valve 261 may close theflow path toward the first decompressor 230, thereby directing all therefrigerant arrived at the second flow path switching valve 261 to thesecond decompressor 231. Accordingly, defrosting the first evaporator240 and continuous cooling for the freezer may be executed at the sametime.

When defrosting the first evaporator 240 and not operating the secondevaporator 241 because the freezer is fully cooled down, the first flowpath switching valve 260 may direct all the refrigerant from thecompressor 210 to the defrosting flow path 250.

As described so far, according to the cooling apparatus 200 inaccordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure, whendefrosting the first evaporator 240 only, defrosting the firstevaporator 240 may be executed, and the second evaporator 241 may beoperated or stopped depending on the need, thereby enabling the coolingapparatus 200 to operate efficiently.

The cooling apparatus 200 in accordance with exemplary embodiments isexpected to defrost the first evaporator 240, and defrosting the secondevaporator 241 may be considered as additional embodiments. For example,while defrosting the second evaporator 241, the first evaporator 240 maybe continuously operated or stopped. Thus, the second end of thedefrosting flow path 250 may be connected to the fourth flow path 236instead of the third flow path 235. Furthermore, separate defrostingflow paths to each of the first and second evaporators (via third andfourth flow paths) can be operated independently, using separate valvesin the first flow path (e.g., 215).

FIG. 6 shows a view of an exemplary cooling apparatus 300 during thedefrosting process in accordance with another embodiment is depicted.From the view point of difference between the cooling apparatus 300 inaccordance with the embodiment and the cooling apparatus 200 previouslydescribed herein, the cooling apparatus 300 in accordance with theembodiments of the present apparatus is capable of defrosting both afirst evaporator 340 and a second evaporator 341 at the same time. Adefrosting flow path 350 may be connected to both a third flow path 335and a fourth flow path 336, and a third flow path switching valve 362may be in the connection between the defrosting flow path 350 and thefourth flow path 336. A fourth flow path switching valve 363 may be inthe connection location between the defrosting flow path 350 and thethird flow path 335.

All of the refrigerant from the compressor 310 may be directed to thedefrosting flow path 350 by a first flow path switching valve 360, andsome of the refrigerant flowing along the defrosting flow path 350 maybe supplied to the second evaporator 341 via the fourth flow path 336.The third flow path switching valve 362 may be 4-way valve and may openboth of the defrosting flow path 350 and the fourth flow path 336 sothat some of the refrigerant can flow in the fourth flow path 336.Alternatively, the third flow path switching valve 362 may close only aflow toward the second decompressor 331. In the refrigerant flowing inthe defrosting flow path 350, the remaining refrigerant except for someamount of the refrigerant supplied to the second evaporator 341 may passthrough the third flow path switching valve 362 and then may be suppliedto the first evaporator 340. When the remaining arrives at the thirdflow path 335, the fourth flow path switching valve 363 may open thethird flow path 335, thereby directing the remaining refrigerant towardthe first evaporator 340. Alternatively, the fourth flow path switchingvalve 363 may close the flow toward the first decompressor 330.

When one of the refrigeration compartment and the freezer is cooled, andthus a corresponding one of the first evaporator 340 and the secondevaporator 341 is operating, the first flow path switching valve 360 mayopen the first flow path 315. Some of the refrigerant from thecompressor 310 may be directed to the defrosting flow path 350 fordefrosting the second evaporator 341 (or the first evaporator 340), andthe remaining compressed refrigerant may be supplied to the firstevaporator 340 (or the second evaporator 341) through the firstdecompressor 330 (or the second decompressor 331).

According to the cooling apparatus 300 in accordance with exemplaryembodiments, when defrosting the first evaporator 340 and/or the secondevaporator 341, cooling a space with the other one which is not beingdefrosted may be continuously executed. Furthermore, depending on theneed, defrosting the first evaporator 340 and the second evaporator 341may be executed simultaneously.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a module 1 forcontrolling the exemplary cooling apparatus 100 of the refrigerator inaccordance of the embodiment with described in FIG. 3. As shown, acontrol unit 2, a memory unit 3, a valve driving unit 4, and acompressor RPM adjustment unit 5 may control the cooling apparatus 100of the refrigerator.

The memory unit 3 may store various conditions for defrosting of theevaporator 140. For example, in case where the temperature inside therefrigerator drops below a prescribed temperature, or when cooling therefrigerator takes longer than a prescribed time, a defrosting processfor the evaporator 140 may be executed. The memory unit 3 may store suchconditions, for example, defrosting starting temperature, period ofdefrosting and so on. The control unit 2 may load such conditions fromthe memory unit 3 and may take an action for starting the defrosting forthe evaporator 140. For example, when such conditions are satisfied, thecontrol unit 2 may be previously set to automatically carry out thedefrosting process.

When it is determined that defrosting the evaporator 140 is to beexecuted, the control unit 2 may cause the valve driving unit 4 to driveor switch the flow path switching valve 160. The flow path switchingvalve 160 may close the first flow path 115 and may then open a firstend of the defrosting flow path 150, thereby directing thehigh-temperature refrigerant from the compressor 110 to the defrostingflow path 150.

When the compressor 110 is an inverter compressor, the compressor rate(e.g., RPM) adjustment unit 5 may control the driving rate to adjust thetemperature of the refrigerant for defrosting, and also to adjust aspeed of the refrigerant supply to the evaporator 140.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary control method 400 forthe cooling apparatus of the refrigerator in accordance with embodimentsof the present disclosure.

In block S410, it may be determined whether to defrost for theevaporator 140. The control unit 2 may load various conditions fordefrosting from the memory unit 3 and may detect whether such (various)conditions are satisfied or not, and with this may determine whether todefrosting or not.

If it is determined to defrost, when the compressor 110 is an invertercompressor, in block S420, the control unit 2 may control the drivingrate of the inverter compressor 110 using the compressor RPM adjustmentunit 5, thereby providing a refrigerant with a suitable temperature andsupply speed for the relevant defrosting.

In block S430, the high-temperature refrigerant from the compressor 110may be directly supplied to the evaporator 140. To achieve this, thecontrol unit 2 may cause the flow path switching valve 160 to close thefirst flow path 115 and to open the first end of the defrosting flowpath 150 with the valve driving unit 4.

During the defrosting of the evaporator 140, in block S440, the controlunit 2 may detect whether the defrosting is complete or not. Ifdefrosting is not complete, the method returns to block S430 andcontinues supplying the high-temperature refrigerant directly to theevaporator 140.

When the defrosting is completed, in block S450, the control unit 2 maycontrol the driving rate of the compressor 110 with the compressor rateadjustment unit 5 to supply the refrigerant with a temperature and asupply speed suitable for cooling the refrigerator.

Subsequently, in block S460, the high-temperature refrigerant from thecompressor 110 may be supplied to the condenser 120 and may arrive atthe evaporator 140 through the decompressor 130. To achieve this, thecontrol unit 2 may cause the flow path switching valve 160 to close thefirst end of the defrosting flow path 150 and to open the first flowpath 115 by the valve driving unit 4.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are describedabove with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in theart would understand that the present disclosure may be implemented invarious ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit ofthe present disclosure.

Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodimentsdescribed above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects.The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims describedbelow, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that allof changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope ofclaims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the presentdisclosure.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments ofthe present disclosure have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, and that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intendedto be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooling apparatus for a refrigerator,comprising: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; acondenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant; adecompressor configured to decompress the condensed refrigerant; anevaporator configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant andgenerate cold air inside the refrigerator; a defrosting flow path,comprising a first end connected to a refrigerant flow path between thecompressor and the condenser, and a second end connected to therefrigerant flow path between the decompressor and the evaporator; and aflow path switching valve configured to selectively direct thecompressed refrigerant from the compressor to the defrosting flow pathor to the condenser.
 2. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein theflow path switching valve is further configured to direct the compressedrefrigerant to the condenser while cooling the refrigerator, and to thedefrosting flow path while defrosting the evaporator without passingthrough the condenser and the decompressor.
 3. The cooling apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the compressor comprises an inverter compressor.
 4. Thecooling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the inverter compressor isconfigured to control at least one of the temperature of the compressedrefrigerant and the supply speed of the compressed refrigerant to thedefrosting flow path.
 5. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein theflow path switching valve comprises a 3-way valve.
 6. The coolingapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit and a drivingunit.
 7. A cooling apparatus for a refrigerator, comprising: acompressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a condenser configuredto condense the compressed refrigerant; a first decompressor and asecond decompressor configured to decompress a portion of or an entireamount of condensed refrigerant, respectively; a first evaporatorconfigured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerant from the firstdecompressor and generate cold air for a refrigeration compartment; asecond evaporator configured to evaporate the decompressed refrigerantfrom the second decompressor and generate cold air for a freezer; adefrosting flow path comprising a first end connected to a firstrefrigerant flow path between the compressor and the condenser, and asecond end connected to a refrigerant flow path between the firstevaporator and the first decompressor or a third refrigerant flow pathbetween the second evaporator and the second decompressor; and a firstflow path switching valve configured to direct a portion or an entireamount of compressed refrigerant from the compressor to at least one ofthe defrosting flow path and the condenser.
 8. The cooling apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein when defrosting the first evaporator and cooling thefreezer, the second end of the defrosting flow path is connected to arefrigerant flow path; and the first flow path switching valve directs aportion of the compressed refrigerant to the defrosting flow path and tothe first evaporator without passing through the condenser and the firstdecompressor, and directs the remaining compressed refrigerant to thesecond evaporator through the condenser and the second decompressor. 9.The cooling apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a second flow pathswitching valve between the condenser and the first and seconddecompressors that directs the remaining compressed refrigerant from thecondenser to the second decompressor.
 10. The cooling apparatus of claim7, wherein when cooling the refrigeration compartment and defrosting thesecond evaporator, the second end of the defrosting flow path isconnected to the third refrigerant flow path, and the first flow pathswitching valve directs a portion of the compressed refrigerant to thedefrosting flow path and to the second evaporator without passingthrough the condenser and the second decompressor, and directs theremaining compressed refrigerant to the first evaporator through thecondenser and the first decompressor.
 11. The cooling apparatus of claim10, further comprising: a second flow path switching valve between thecondenser and the first and second decompressors, that directs theremaining compressed refrigerant passed through the condenser to thefirst decompressor.
 12. The cooling apparatus of claim 7, wherein thefirst flow path switching valve directs all the compressed refrigerantto the defrosting flow path, and the cooling apparatus furthercomprises: a third flow path switching valve on the defrosting flow pathand configured to direct a portion of the compressed refrigerantdirected to the defrosting flow path to the second evaporator; and afourth flow path switching valve on the defrosting flow path andconfigured to direct the remaining compressed refrigerant directed tothe defrosting flow path to the first evaporator.
 13. The coolingapparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one of the third and fourth flowpath switching valves comprises a 3-way valve.
 14. The cooling apparatusof claim 13, wherein another one of the third and fourth flow pathswitching valves comprises a 4-way valve.
 15. A method for controlling acooling apparatus of a refrigerator having a cooling cycle including acompressor, a condenser, a decompressor and an evaporator, the methodcomprising: determining whether to defrost the evaporator; and supplyinga refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator directly whendefrosting the evaporator.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: detecting whether the evaporator has been completelydefrosted; and directing the refrigerant from the compressor to thecondenser when the evaporator has been completely defrosted.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the cooling apparatus comprises: adefrosting flow path, having a first end connected to a firstrefrigerant flow path between the compressor and the condenser and asecond end connected to a second refrigerant flow path between thedecompressor and the evaporator; and a flow path switching valveconfigured to selectively direct the compressed refrigerant from thecompressor to the defrosting flow path or to the condenser.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the compressor comprises an invertercompressor.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising controlling adriving rate of the inverter compressor when defrosting the evaporator.20. The method of claim 19, wherein controlling the driving ratecomprises controlling at least one of a temperature of the compressedrefrigerant and a supply rate of the compressed refrigerant to theevaporator.